HSK 3, n, 4 strokes, radical 牙, rank #2057, Medium
牙
yá
ivory
HSK 3, n, 4 strokes, radical 牙, rank #2057, Medium
牙
yá
>颗[kē]
HSK 3, n, 4 strokes, radical 牙, rank #2057, Medium
牙
yá
tooth, molar; fang, tusk; serrated
HSK 3, n, 4 strokes, radical 牙, rank #2057, Medium
yá(ya2) T2
1tooth
2ivory
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
牙yá(ya2)
The character 牙 (yá) refers to a tooth or teeth, commonly used in both singular and plural forms. It can also denote ivory and is used in various contexts related to dental health, animals (like tusks), and objects with serrated edges.
Strokes4Radical牙Frequency#2057DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, dental health is emphasized, and traditional beliefs often link strong teeth to overall health. This character can also be seen in various idiomatic expressions related to strength and resilience.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant tooth (牙) that looks like a sharp mountain peak, reminding you of its role in biting and chewing. The pronunciation 'yá' sounds like 'ya', which you might say while showing off a big bright smile, emphasizing your teeth.
Meanings of 牙
yá(ya2)
1tooth
2ivory
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 牙
牙Simplified
4Strokes
牙Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2057Frequency Rank
颗Measure Word
HSK 3.0L3IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 牙
Podcast: 牙
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AI Study Notes for 牙
Quick Contrast
牙 (tooth) vs 齿 (tooth, more formal or literary) — use 牙 for everyday contexts, while 齿 is often found in formal writing or specific terminologies.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant tooth (牙) that looks like a sharp mountain peak, reminding you of its role in biting and chewing. The pronunciation 'yá' sounds like 'ya', which you might say while showing off a big bright smile, emphasizing your teeth.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 牙 with other similar-sounding words. It’s important to remember it specifically refers to teeth or ivory. Common collocations include 牙痛 (yátòng - toothache) and 牙刷 (yáshuā - toothbrush).
HSK Study Tips
Although 牙 is not explicitly listed in the HSK levels, it connects well with vocabulary related to health and body parts. Students should focus on its use in everyday conversations about dental care and health.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, dental health is emphasized, and traditional beliefs often link strong teeth to overall health. This character can also be seen in various idiomatic expressions related to strength and resilience.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 牙 with the character 牙齿 (yáchǐ - teeth), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember that 牙 can refer to a single tooth, while 牙齿 refers to multiple teeth.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 牙
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Grammar Patterns of 牙
牙 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Different meanings; '牙' relates to teeth, while '压' means to press.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "tooth"?
or
Example Sentences for 牙 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
它猛地朝我的脚脖子咬下去，牙齿还咔咔直响。
tā měng dì zhāo wǒ de jiǎo bó zǐ yǎo xià qù， ， yá chǐ huán kǎ kǎ zhí。
His teeth clicked as he snapped at my ankle.
2
把你的眉毛修剪成越往外眼角越细的月牙形。
bǎ nǐ de méi máo xiū jiǎn chéng yuè wǎng wài yǎn jiǎo yuè xì de yuè yá xíng。
Taper the shape of your eyebrows towards the outer corners.
3
他们最终的目标是为匈牙利建立起市场经济体制。
tā mén zuì zhōng de mù biāo shì wéi xiōng yá lì jiàn lì qǐ shì cháng jīng jì tǐ zhì。
Their ultimate aim was a market economy for Hungary.
4
牙龈萎缩可能是疾病导致的，也可能仅仅是错误的刷牙方式引起的。
yá yín wěi suō kě néng shì jí bìng dǎo zhì de， ， yě kě néng jǐn jǐn shì cuò wù de shuā yá fāng shì yǐn qǐ。
Receding gums can be the result of disease or simply incorrect brushing.
5
西班牙的当务之急是签署《欧洲经济和货币联盟条约》。
xī bān yá de dāng wù zhī jí shì qiān shǔ《 《 ōu zhōu jīng jì hé huò bì lián méng tiáo》。
Spain's top priority is the signing of an EMU treaty.
6
西班牙一直是古巴的主要贸易伙伴之一。
xī bān yá yī zhí shì gǔ bā de zhǔ yào mào yì huǒ bàn zhī yī。
Spain has been one of Cuba's major trading partners.
7
他在西班牙海岸附近的一次海难中溺水身亡。
tā zài xī bān yá hǎi àn fù jìn de yī cì hǎi nán zhōng nì shuǐ shēn wáng。
He was drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Spain.
8
费利佩·冈萨雷斯在西班牙选举中获得第4次连任。
fèi lì pèi· · gāng sà léi sī zài xī bān yá xuǎn jǔ zhōng huò dé4 dì 4 cì。
Felipe Gonzalez won a fourth term of office in Spain's election.
9
西班牙媒体昨天仍然在攻击英国媒体。
xī bān yá méi tǐ zuó tiān réng rán zài gōng jī yīng guó méi tǐ。
The Spanish media were still sniping at the British press yesterday.
10
将牙线在齿间来回拉动。
jiāng yá xiàn zài chǐ jiān lái huí lā dòng。
Draw the floss backwards and forwards between the teeth.
Cultural Notes for 牙
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, strong teeth symbolize good luck and health. A common saying is '牙好，身体好', meaning 'Good teeth, good health'.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, dental health is emphasized, and traditional beliefs often link strong teeth to overall health. This character can also be seen in various idiomatic expressions related to strength and resilience.
Word Family of 牙
Compounds37
穿chuan1to bore through
呀ya5(particle equivalent to 啊 after a vowel, expressing surprise or doubt)
砑ya4to polish, to grind; to roll with a stone roller
秭zi3billion
笫zi3bed boards, sleeping mat
胏
迓ya4to receive a guest
冴
厊
岈ya2the name of a mountain
庌
柹
牬
犽
疨
笌
衺
谺
趀
釾
閕
颬
鴉ya1crow; Corvus species (various)
齖
Words Containing This Character20
牙yátooth
西班牙Spain
牙齿yáchǐtooth牙齒
西班牙语xībānyáyǔSpanish language西班牙語
牙医dentist牙醫
葡萄牙Portugal
牙膏yágāotoothpaste
刷牙shuāyáto brush one's teeth
匈牙利Hungary
牙刷yáshuātoothbrush
咬牙gnaw
牙买加Jamaica牙買加
象牙ivory
假牙false teeth
葡萄牙语Portuguese (language)葡萄牙語
牙签toothpick牙籤
牙科dentistry
牙龈gums牙齦
以牙还牙a tooth for a tooth (retaliation)以牙還牙
老掉牙very old
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 穿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 牙
The measure word used with 牙 is 顆 (kē), which is typically used for small round objects. So you would say '一顆牙' (yī kē yá) to mean 'one tooth.'
牙 is pronounced as 'yá' in Mandarin. The 'y' sound is similar to the English 'y' in 'yes,' and the 'á' has a rising tone.
牙 (yá) means 'tooth' in Chinese. It can also refer to 'ivory'. This character is used in various contexts related to teeth and dental health.
You can use 牙 in sentences such as '我的牙疼' (Wǒ de yá téng) which means 'My tooth hurts.' It can also be used in phrases like '刷牙' (shuā yá), meaning 'to brush teeth.'
The radical is 牙 itself, which is a phonetic and semantic component related to teeth.
Yes, 牙 can also refer to ivory and objects that have a serrated edge.
Toothache is expressed as 牙痛 (yátòng) in Mandarin.
